A Waianae Intermediate School vice principal has been selected as Hawaii’s 2010 State Assistant Principal of the Year. Bernadine “Bernie” Taaca is one of 52 vice principals nationwide being honored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Taaca has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and began her career in public education in 1980 as a special-education teacher at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School. In 1981, she began teaching health and physical education at Waianae Intermediate. Taaca was appointed one of Waianae Intermediate’s three vice principals in 2002.

This year’s honorees will be celebrated at the annual Assistant Principal’s Forum and Banquet in Washington, D.C., next month. From the state winners, three finalists are selected to become eligible for the National Assistant Principal of the Year award.